Mistakes plague East girls hoops at Hamburg
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Bridget Steele, right, battles with a Hamburg player during the Lady Flames' 49-30 road loss last Thursday. It was the second time Hamburg has beaten East this season. Photo by John Normile Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

Everything that could have gone wrong for Williamsville East at Hamburg last Thursday did.

The Lady Flames turned the ball over 33 times, including its first four possessions, shot 10-for-39 from the floor, two second half free throws, and had only eight rebounds, eight steals, and four assists in a disappointing 49-30 loss.

The defeat more than likely ensured the ECIC Division II title for Hamburg (10-1). East fell to 8-2. Its other league loss came to Hamburg, 38-36, on Dec. 14.

"They showed up and we didn't that night," said Durr. "I don't know what it was. It's disappointing because I think we were ready. The girls knew the game basically was for the division title. We had a good day of practice the day before."

Durr said a key to the game was limiting Hamburg's Katie Medina (17 points) and Alyssa Zemla (12 points). The two combined for 11 of Hamburg's 13 first quarter points and 19 of the team's 23 first half points.

East trailed, 13-5, after the first quarter and, 23-14, at halftime.

"Hamburg was playing with confidence," said Durr. "They're shots were going down. In the second quarter, we were getting open shots but not knocking them down. We missed 17 empties (shots in the lane, short jumpers). When you miss that many easy shots, it's almost deflating."

Hamburg led 35-20 after the third quarter.

Molly Bojanek and Kaitlin Roseti each led East with seven points. Taylor Klun (six points), Courtney Hawkins, Bridget Steele, Pooja Bakhai and Meghan Scheidemann (two points each) and Jessica Kowalski and Christa Morgante (one point each) also tallied for the Lady Flames.

Everything went better for East in its 47-38 road win at Clarence two days earlier.

East shot 20-for-44 from the floor and led after each quarter. The Lady Flames outscored Clarence 17-9 in the fourth quarter to pick up the non-league win.

Bojanek dropped a career-high 18 points, including two three-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws in an eight-point fourth quarter to lead East.

"Clarence plays an aggressive 2-3 zone that doesn't allow the ball in the lane too much so we knew it was important to shoot well from the outside," said Durr. "Players on the wing and at the top of the key took advantage, like Molly."

Roseti added 10 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four blocks. Morgante scored four points and distributed six assists. Kowalski and Anna Stolzenburg (six points each), Aleece Burgio (two points) and Scheidemann (one point) also tallied for the Lady Flames.

Katie Lancelloti led Clarence with 13 points.

East, 13-3 overall, hosts Lake Shore at 7:30 p.m. Friday. It is East's senior night.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com